The Army Is Preparing To Send Driverless Vehicles Into Combat (vice.com)

The U.S. Army is getting ready to send driverless trucks into combat. "Next fall, [the Army's] 'Leader-Follower' technology will enable convoys of autonomous vehicles to follow behind one driven by a human," reports VICE News. "It's a direct response to the improvised explosive devices that caused nearly half the casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan." From the report: Much of the research and development of these technologies has been done at TARDEC, the Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center, in Warren, Michigan. Typically human-driven trucks are outfitted with sensors and cameras through a TARDEC-created applique kit. They're not exactly robots, just regular military trucks that have been made a lot smarter. The technology is expected to be ready for field use in September 2019.

Comments

Behind?

[R3d M3rcury]

"'Leader-Follower' technology will enable convoys of autonomous vehicles to follow behind one driven by a human, It's a direct response to the improvised explosive devices that caused nearly half the casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Umm...wouldn't it be smarter if the unmanned vehicles were in front of the one driven by a human? I mean, they'll hit the IED first...

Re:Behind?

[dwillden]

So you would rather we just pretend that the odds are very good that we'll have to send troops into other countries where some portion of the population doesn't want us?

We weren't in Somalia to take over or conquer anything, we were there with the UN trying to protect food deliveries to the famine stricken country. But because we and the other UN peacekeepers were protecting the food from the warlords who wanted to take and hoard it all, we and the Other UN forces became targets.

We participate in peacekeeping and emergency response actions around the world. There is always someone who wants to disrupt such. We must be able to transport supplies (ours and relief) in quantity and safety.

None of that requires us to have invaded anywhere. And yes there is the possibility that we may have to act against another country. And we would be foolish to not look to be able to operate in hostile terrain. Both on our own and at the request of the rest of the world that claims to be offended that we can project force, but can't dial fast enough when they realize they need a capable military force.

We tried to disengage and let the world handle thing in the early 90's. That resulted in the Genocide of the Balkan wars that happened right in front of the watching eyes of the gutless UN. So then Europe cried to the US for help and we did the job, yet again.

Re:Behind?

[skam240]

Well said.

I'm no militarist or hawk and I certainly don't think for a moment that America's military record is all things pristine and pure but it's incredibly foolish to have such a narrow view of the US military or its needs for modernization as the parent you responded to made.

Great idea!

[Miles_O'Toole]

"Just get the one with the driver in it, Achmed. The rest will stop and wait for us to unload them."